Frequently Asked Questions in GCPS

GCPS (Gwinnett County Public Schools), like many other districts across the State and nation, has designated attendance boundaries for each school within our district. The Permissive Transfer Process allows students to transfer from their attendance zoned school to another school in the district that is on the permissive transfer list.

For additional information about GCPS’ permissive transfer process and the form to request a transfer, contact the local school your child is zoned to attend.

• General information concerning GCPS’ permissive Transfer Process
• Gwinnett schools accepting a permissive transfer (2nd Semester, 2023-24 and 1st Semester, 2024-25)
• Timeline for requesting a permissive transfer
• Gwinnett County Board of Education notice about Permissive Transfer
• Procedures for Implementing Transfer Policy to Schools within the District

GCPS entered our first contract in 2009. That contract included a waiver for class size. Enrollment in our schools fluctuates throughout the year. In some cases, this fluctuation could cause a class to go over the maximum allowed by the state. For every section that is over by a single student, we would have to hire an additional teacher and create a new section, or we would lose funding for that class. Hiring a new teacher mid-year, or even after the school year has started, can be extremely difficult. Having this waiver allows us to keep the funding in the event a class or classes go over the maximum number. Also, having this waiver allows us to hire staff who support teachers and students, i.e., instructional coaches, additional counselors, etc. 

GCPS does not have any plans to increase class size.  Our focus remains on keeping class sizes at manageable levels and decreasing classes wherever and whenever possible. Despite only increasing student enrollment by approximately 4,800 over the past 4 years, we have added an additional approximately 2,100 points to our local schools in an effort to reduce class sizes.

Click on this Class Size Rules and Regulations link for more information on class size.

Learn more about the Strategic Waivers School System, and review additional answers to frequently asked questions about the SWSS contract. 

Yes, annually, all parents have the opportunity to review the Handbook Information for Students and Families, which includes our media release. 

If you do submit in writing to your principal to opt your student out of photos and videos from GCPS, please note that your written notice will be effective for the current school year only and must be renewed on an annual basis should you wish to continue to opt out of the release of photographs and recordings.

Please also note that Gwinnett County Public Schools will not be responsible for, and cannot control, photographs, audio recordings, or video recordings captured by individuals who are not employed by, affiliated with, or under contract with Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Please contact your local school administration or technology team if you have further questions regarding this topic.

Below are the links to the resources to support Health instruction that we have been piloting in Gwinnett County Public Schools:

1. Goodheart Wilcox: https://bit.ly/GwinnettCohealth

2. ETR: https://www.etr.org/healthsmart/

Username: GCPSReview2022@gcpsk12.org

Password: Review2022

Gwinnett’s standards for grades K–12 are called the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) and are aligned to the state-adopted Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies for students at all grade levels. Gwinnett’s AKS are rigorous standards that prepare students for college and 21st century careers in a globally competitive future.

The AKS standards for each grade level spell out the essential concepts students are expected to know and skills they should acquire in that grade or subject. The AKS offer a solid base on which teachers build rich learning experiences. Teachers use curriculum guides, technology, and instructional resources to teach the AKS and to make sure each and every student is learning to his or her potential.

The Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards were developed by our teachers, with input from our parents and community, in response to Gwinnett County Public Schools’ mission statement: The mission of Gwinnett County Public Schools is to pursue excellence in academic knowledge, skills, and behavior for each student resulting in measured improvement against local, national, and world-class standards.

Learn more about the AKS. 

Yes. Parents or legal guardians have the option of removing their child from the human sexuality unit at each grade level.  Prior to the parent or legal guardian making a choice to allow his or her child to take the specified unit of instruction, he or she shall be told what instruction is to be provided and have the opportunity to review all instructional materials to be used, print and non-print.  

Parents or legal guardians must notify the principal in writing if they choose to remove their child from the unit. An alternative assignment will be provided for those who opt out of this instruction. 

Learn more about Health and Physical Education in GCPS. 

Gwinnett County Public Schools finds that the quickest and most effective way to resolve a concern regarding your child is by addressing it at the most direct level.

In our school district, we care about each and every student. We also believe that open and honest communication between parents and teachers is a key to student success. Thank you for partnering with your child’s teacher and school to address any concerns.

1. Teacher - First, talk to your child’s teacher or a counselor at school for assistance. Most concerns are resolved at the classroom level.
    
2. Assistant Principal - If the concern is not resolved at the classroom level, please visit with your child’s assistant principal.
    
3. Principal - If working with the AP does not adequately address the issue, please meet with the school principal.
    
4. Cluster Superintendent If the issue persists, please call 678-301-6000, and ask to speak to the cluster superintendent who is assigned to the school your child attends.
    
5. Chief of Schools If, after following steps one through four, your concern has not been resolved to your satisfaction, please contact the Chief of Schools for School Improvement and Operations.

Other Resources
If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 9-1-1. The GCPS Hotline for anonymous reporting of potential violence is 770-822-6513. If you have a non-emergency criminal concern, please contact local law enforcement.

Please select one of the files below for a downloadable view of this information:

• English
• Español

As good stewards of public funds, we are continuously evaluating tools used by schools and districts to support teaching and learning and district operations. 

A cross-functional team of individuals was involved in reviewing RFIs for a two-way communication tool in the spring of 2023. ParentSquare was selected from this process as the tool that would meet the greatest needs within GCPS to support ongoing two-way communication. 

Learn more about ParentSquare and how GCPS is using it on our website. 

Career opportunities in Gwinnett County Public Schools, the largest employer in the county and one of the largest employers in the state, are available online. With GCPS' online application process, prospective employees have a more efficient way to find employment opportunities in Gwinnett County Public Schools. Online, applicants can learn more about available jobs, apply for those positions, and track their progress throughout the application process all with 24/7 access from any computer with an Internet connection. If you have questions or need technical assistance, call the HR Customer Support Center at 678-301-6161 during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday).

Attendance zones for Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) are determined by geographical boundaries called clusters. Within each cluster, there are three to six elementary schools, one or two middle schools, and one high school. Attendance lines drawn within the cluster’s boundaries determine which elementary or middle school in the cluster a student attends. To find which school your child will attend, use the GCPS SchoolLocator.

GCPS has a number of facilities and programs for which attendance is not determined by cluster. These include:

• ADAPT (special education school)
• GIVE Center East (alternative school)
• GIVE Center West (alternative school)
• Gwinnett County Online Campus (district online school)
• Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology
• Maxwell High School of Technology (career and technical education program)
• Monarch School (special education school)
• New Life Academy of Excellence (charter school)
• North Metro Academy of Performing Arts (themed elementary school, gr. K-5)
• Oakland Meadow School (special education school)
• Phoenix High School (open campus school) 
• STRIVE (special education school)
• The BRIDGE (special education school)

Registration for newcomers is held weekdays, year-round, at all elementary, middle, and high schools. Please call your local school for an appointment. To find out which school your child will attend, use GCPS School Locator.

I am a new parent to GCPS enrolling a new student

I already have a ParentVUE account and I’m enrolling a new student

Kindergarten Registration

Please review GCPS registration information for more information. To order your child's Georgia birth certificate online, please visit the state's ROVER (Request Official Vital Events Records) website.

Both the immunization form (Georgia Form #3231) and the medical form (Georgia Form #3300) are available from the health department and through most Georgia doctors and dentists.

For Georgia Form #3300, letters from appropriate healthcare professionals and out-of-state certificates are acceptable, if completed within the previous 12 months and stapled to the state form. These exams are available at Gwinnett County Health Department locations for a fee.

No. Only health departments and physicians licensed in Georgia can obtain blank immunization certificates (Form #3231). Take your child's personal immunization record to a Georgia health department or Georgia doctor and they can complete the form and give any required vaccines. A fee may be charged for completing paperwork or for administering required immunizations.

Blank medical forms are available only to health departments and doctors and dentists licensed in Georgia. However, letters from appropriate healthcare professionals and out-of-state certificates are acceptable for the medical form (#3300), if completed within the previous 12 months and stapled to the state form. Vision, hearing, and dental, and nutrition screening exams are available at Gwinnett Health Department locations for a fee.

Gwinnett's Academic Knowledge and Skills or AKS is the essential curriculum for grades K-12 in Gwinnett schools. It spells out precisely what students are expected to learn and be able to do in each grade/subject. Developed by Gwinnett educators with input from more than 5,000 parents and citizens, it was initially adopted in 1996 and is reviewed annually. The AKS for each grade level and content area is available on the district website.

Students in Gwinnett County Public Schools participate in standardized tests for their grade level throughout the year. These tests, when used as part of a comprehensive assessment program that includes homework, projects, classwork, teacher-developed tests, and other local assessments, help parents and teachers measure student achievement.

Learn more about Gwinnett's assessment program.